ASK KICKSTAND

Ask Kickstand is an email advice column dedicated to motorcycle questions. These questions can be technical; regrading mechanical issues, safety related, philosophical, spiritual or relationship issues.

Disclaimer: Kickstand is not a psychiatrist, a professional mechanic, Motorcycle Safety Trainer, pastor or a social worker. If a reader chooses to follow Kickstand's advice it is with the understanding that neither Kickstand nor the Nobody Motorcycle Club will be held liable.

Dear Kickstand,

I am a 47 year old man who has been riding motorcycle for five years. My wife says I started riding due to a mid-life crisis. We have fun joking about my sudden interest in motorcycles. She will occasionally go for a ride with me, but for the most part it is my hobby. I own a 1982 Honda Sabre V45. I really like the bike and have been learning how to do all the maintenance in fact I am rather proud that I did a modification on the oil system the first winter I had the bike. You may be aware that the early Sabres would often have excessive camshaft wear.

Before biking, my main hobbies were doing crossword puzzles and making bread. Now I spend my free time tinkering with my cycle, reading cycle magazines and doing palates to keep in shape. I ride about 5,000 miles a season and commute to work once or twice a week.

My coworkers find it very humorous that the skinny accountant is now into biking. It is all good humor, but I am now wondering if it is time to join a bike club where I can meet some people who share an interest in cycling. Since I started looking for a club, I have realized that none of them seem to fit my interests and needs. I recently came across your blog and am interested in finding out if the Nobodies is a good fit for me.

Thanks,

Skinny Sabre


Dear Skinny,

Thanks for your email. You have posed an interesting and important question. Does everyone need to belong to a motorcycle club? The short answer is no. There are people who find the solitude of biking the most appealing aspect. Those folks don't want to share that experience with others. There are also people who ride in such an unpredictable and erratic fashion that no one is willing to risk riding with them. You don't sound like you fit into either category. So the long answer is I don't know if you need to be involved in a club. Joining a motorcycle club is much different than joining any other club. The demands are excessive and the cost cannot be measured in dollars. When one joins a legitimate motorcycle club like the Nobodies, they are placing their entire identity into the hands of the club leadership. I am not necessarily talking about being required to to illegal activities or behaving in a manner contrary to one's personal ethics, although that may occur. I am addressing the reality of losing one's sense of self for the good of the club. Now it you are willing to sign on that doted line, then you are a good candidate for a motorcycle club. If you would like to learn more about the Nobodies, contact me and we can set up a meeting.

Sincerely,

Kickstand